The Arboretum

This semester in sustainability it is all about hydration in sustainable ways. Water is essential for healthy living, crucial for sporting, mental and academic performance and at Evatt School we encourage students and staff to drink only tap water at school.

As we are part of the Healthy Schools initiative in ACT schools, the ACT Directorate of Education and Training is funding the purchase and installation of two brand new water bottle refill stations and drinking fountains. These are the healthy and environmentally friendly choice when it comes to encouraging our students to drink plenty of tap water daily.

Stainless steel stations have been installed at Evatt School. We already have drink bottle filler attachments installed at each of our water fountains, all of which are disinfected weekly.

Parents can support their children's health and academic success by encouraging only water at school. Students can bring a refillable drink bottle from home and be confident that it can be filled up at school throughout the day, easily and hygienically.

There is no need for any other drinks to come to school.

The University of Canberra has provided research which shows that installing refillable drink bottle stations on campus can:

reduce PET bottle consumption by 140 000 annually

prevent 79 660 going into landfill

avoid using 16 800 litres of oil

save 252 kilolitres of water

save on waste reduction on bottled water packaging.

At Evatt School we are confident that the installation of these stations will reduce our waste to landfill figures by up to thirty per cent.

In science at Evatt School, the foundation resource used in the science release program is Primary Connections, an innovative and award winning resource developed in partnership between the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Government Department of Education. Primary Connections links an inquiry and investigative approach with literacy learning.

Students use their prior knowledge and literacies to develop explanations for their hands-on experiences of scientific phenomena. Students have opportunities to represent and re-represent their developing understanding. They are actively engaged in the learning process and develop investigations skills as well as an understanding of the nature of science.

In the junior school, years one and two are studying the chemical sciences with a unit called Spot the Difference. Students observe and explore change through the context of food including spaghetti, chocolate and popcorn.

In the middle school, years three and four are studying the physical sciences with a unit called Smooth Moves; providing students with a chance to explore forces and motion.

In the senior school, the students are studying earth and space science with a unit called Earthquake Explorers. This unit provides opportunities for students to develop an understanding of the causes of earthquakes and how they change the Earth's surface.

Kindergarten have been to visit the Materials Recycling Facility at Hume, with the middle and senior school completing this excursion early in term two. This excursion is always very well received by both the students and staff, all of whom return to school with greater knowledge and motivation to manage waste in more sustainable ways.